Watch: In an exhibition match at the Akbar Bugti Stadium in Quetta, Iftikhar Ahmed of the Quetta Gladiators hit six sixes an over of Wahab Riaz of the Peshawar Zalmi.
After taking Bangladesh and, in general, the cricketing fraternity by storm, Iftikhar returned home for an exhibition match between the two Pakistan Super League teams in Quetta, and his countrymen got a taste of Ifti Mania.
The Gladiators were on 148-5 after 19 overs. Iftikhar was on 58, having faced 44 balls, while Mohammad Nawaz was on a six-ball four. Until this point, Wahab had done little wrong, having conceded 11 off his three overs.
Wahab, the interim state minister of Punjab, attempted a yorker on the middle stump to begin with, but all he could produce was a low full-toss. Having already shuffled across the stumps, Iftikhar dispatched this into the stands over square-leg.
The next ball was shorter, and Iftikhar went for the pull. He might not have timed it, but the brute force carried it over the ropes past wide mid-wicket.
Wahab pitched up now. Iftikhar, having shuffled across, found it it in the slot, and bludgeoned it straight over Wahab’s head for the third six of the over.
Wahab switched to round the wicket. This time the ball was outside off, but Iftikhar simply went down on one knee and lofted the ball for six over deep extra-cover.
Running out of options, Wahab now bowled a bouncer outside off, yet again from round the wicket. Iftikhar uppercut the ball ferociously, and it soared over backward point for six.
On air, Mohammad Hafeez announced – with apologies to Wahab – that he wished for a sixth six. Iftikhar obliged. The sixth ball was an encore, albeit perhaps a tad slower. Iftikhar hit it harder and squarer for the sixth six to finish on an unbeaten 58-ball 94.
The Gladiators finished on 184-5; Iftikhar, on a 50-ball 94.
Watch Iftikhar Ahmed hit Wahab Riaz for six sixes in an over:
6⃣ 6⃣ 6⃣ 6⃣ 6⃣ 6⃣ 💪
Iftikhar goes big in the final over of the innings! 🔥
Watch Live ➡️ https://t.co/xOrGZzkfvl pic.twitter.com/CDSMFoayoZ
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) February 5, 2023